Diamond Foods, Inc. is launching a line of Emerald Nuts seasoned cashews and three new flavors of Kettle Brand chips.

Kettle Brand chips are made with delicious blends of natural seasonings and cooked in pure, healthy oils, according to the company. There are over 28 flavors of chips.

The Kettle Brand Carolina Barbeque chips are smoky sweet and packed with tangy flavors. The sweet honey, mustard, vinegar and brown sugar combination make for a delicious snack.

Thank God It’s Fridays! It’s Time for a Snack.The TGI Fridays snack line, with its restaurant-inspired creations, recently expanded with a new line of snacks featuring nuts, pretzels, crackers and seeds.

“We’ve demonstrated remarkable consistency in our ability to develop successful new products under the TGI Fridays banner, and we’ve often pushed the envelope of bold flavors in the process,” said Steve Sklar, senior vice president and general manager for Inventure Foods, Inc.

“These mixes are no exception—in fact, we believe they perfectly hit the intersection of salty, sweet and spicy.”

Hornitos revolutionizes the tequila experience
Hornitos Tequila recently released a sweet addition to its line. Hornitos Spiced Honey serves up a clean tequila flavor with a touch of honey, rich vanilla and a lingering spice finish. The warm notes of honey paired with a unique spice blend provide the perfect balance to the citrusy, peppery and earthy notes found in tequila.

“The unique sweet and heat flavor combination sets Hornitos Spiced Honey apart and makes Hornitos Tequila the first major player to debut a honey tequila product,” said Gary Ross, Senior Brand Director of Tequila at Beam Suntory. “The special spice and honey blend is sure to appeal to tequila fans and those seeking an introduction to the spirit.”

Mike’s Hot Honey is a chili pepper-infused honey condiment that pairs well with everything from pizza to fruits—some people even put it on ice cream!

Blending honey with chili peppers is a trending flavor variant. “The ‘bee sting sauce’ as it’s sometimes called, has become the hottest condiment since Sriracha,” notes Sandy Cook, of Firmenich, in an interview in the February issue of the World of Food Ingredients magazine.

Mike’s Hot Honey is made with wildflower honey harvested from apiaries in New York and New Jersey.

A few beer-inspired snack products were debuted at the Sweets & Snacks Expo in Chicago. Product developers are tapping into the popularity of craft beer with new snacks with beer flavors.

“The beer industry has expanded to include many more industries like alcoholic beverages, sauces, meats, batters, bakery goods, confections to even ice cream,” said Sheila Harte, senior beverage applications manager for Bell Flavors.

The trend will probably continue to spill into even more categories, as the products that used craft beer at the event ranged from jerky and onion rings to chocolate and cake mixes.

One product, Honey Brown Ale BBQ Sauce, is made with brown ale, honey and smoked maple. Gringo Jack’s, Manchester, Vt., produces the sauce, and partnered with a local brewery to develop a line of craft beer-inspired barbecue sauces.